Lance Stephenson's top five players: 'Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O’Neal'

To his recollection, Bryant was persistent and made certain that Devean George re-signed with the purple and gold after his deal expired in 2002. “My contract was up after my third 12 months. He was there preventing for my contract. He referred to as me day by day [telling me], ‘Did they get the numbers proper?’ [I said] ‘Nope, not but.’ [Kobe replied] ‘Okay, I’ll be in there tomorrow understanding,’” the 2-time MIAC Participant of the Yr mentioned on “Forgotten Seasons.” -via Basketball Community / February 24, 2024

Someplace over the Grand Canyon, the Spurs’ coach lastly fired up the iPad and commenced the promised video tutorial, a movie examine that includes the best hits of a number of the league’s all-time greats. There was Michael Jordan and his rocker step. There was Tim Duncan and his drop step. There was Kobe Bryant stubbornly maneuvering area to get off a fadeaway jumper, Hakeem Olajuwon dream shaking, Kevin McHale post-moving opponents into oblivion. To the 20-year-old Wembanyama, all of this may as nicely have been black-and-white footage of the moon touchdown. “It’s not tape I’ve had an opportunity to look at,” he mentioned, “as a result of it’s not from my technology.” -via San Antonio Specific-Information / February 23, 2024

To the 75-year-old Popovich, there was a function to the in-flight historical past lesson. “To not make him them,” Popovich mentioned, “however for him to see actually strong footwork and motion by actually essentially sound gamers. We’re making an attempt to get that into him.” -via San Antonio Specific-Information / February 23, 2024

You’ve been killing it within the G League. What has your mentality been like coming into this season? Lance Stephenson: My mentality coming into the G League was to truly assist the younger guys get higher. Present all of them the issues I discovered as being a vet. Attempting to indicate them the ropes, telling them what it’s like, displaying them methods to play protection, displaying them methods to get to the outlet, studying the sport as rapidly as attainable. However, my purpose is to get again up there with NBA groups. I’m truly going onerous, making an attempt to win video games, and simply making an attempt to have enjoyable on the market. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

In case you might speak to NBA groups proper now, what would you inform them about what you would carry to their NBA workforce? Lance Stephenson: Management. Positively, serving to younger guys. Successful mentality, simply that edge on the defensive finish. Plenty of groups need assistance with protection, particularly throughout the playoffs. Robust guys that may play protection and lock down and win video games. I can carry any edge {that a} coach wants. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Do you’re feeling like each workforce ought to have their very own Udonis Haslem on their workforce? LS: Sure. Not less than two or three veterans, that may truly nonetheless play, however any veterans that may assist the fellows. Present them methods to play protection, methods to transfer off the court docket. There’s lots of conditions off the court docket that guys don’t even know that be hitting them, and so they don’t bought no one to speak to. You be within the locker room and simply having a lot talks about life conditions, and it’s at all times good to have a veteran over there. Air hustling like, “Nah, don’t do it that manner younger fella, do it this fashion.” -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Jovan Buha: Lakers’ damage report vs. Phoenix: — LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Cam Reddish are questionable. — Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent and Christian Wooden are out. — Jalen Hood-Schifino and Maxwell Lewis are with the South Bay Lakers. -via Twitter @jovanbuha / February 24, 2024

LeBron James: Love you Pop!! -via Twitter @KingJames / February 24, 2024

Justin Kubatko: The @LAClippers Russell Westbrook turned the twenty fourth participant in NBA historical past to succeed in 9,000 discipline objectives made. Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, and LeBron James are the one gamers to each make and help on 9,000 discipline objectives. Take a look at in the present day’s free recreation notes: statitudes.com/p/nba-game-not… pic.twitter.com/eLyWqGGW7G -via Twitter @jkubatko / February 24, 2024

Heading into Friday’s recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Area, the 7-foot-3 Wembanyama was averaging 20.5 factors, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and an NBA-best 3.2 blocks per recreation. Finally, Wembanyama will determine what the heck he’s doing, after which the league will actually be in bother. “This entire season has been an training within the sense that he’s studying the league,” Popovich mentioned. “He’s understanding the power of gamers, the physicality.” -via San Antonio Specific-Information / February 23, 2024

While you had been rising up, did you play with buying and selling playing cards? Lance Stephenson: Truly, I didn’t, however my pals did, in order that they used to at all times give me totally different playing cards. You already know, I’m a basketball participant and an excellent fan. My first couple of playing cards that I bought had been Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen, Shaquille O’Neal. I truly bought the craziest card, a holographic Michael Jordan card. I want I nonetheless had it to today as a result of I used to be so hyped. I used to be like ‘Ma, I bought this card, Michael Jordan holographic. She’s like boy, go put them playing cards away.’ So yeah, I had a pair playing cards after I was younger. -via HoopsHype / February 25, 2024

Victor Wembanyama took questions on the podium sitting in entrance of a San Antonio Spurs banner and was instructed concerning the statistical feat he had simply pulled off Friday night time in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers Wembanyama joined Jamaal Tinsley (2001) as the one NBA rookies to have a 5×5 recreation — posting not less than 5 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocks in a recreation — and in addition turned simply the second participant to have 5 blocks and 5 steals in consecutive video games, becoming a member of Michael Jordan. Wembanyama paused to think about Jordan’s feat after which requested, “I ponder if he did it in wins.” -via ESPN / February 24, 2024